Einzelfällen

Einzelfällen refers to single, specific instances as opposed to general rules or typical patterns. The term is used in German to emphasize the particularities of one case and to distinguish individual occurrences from broad generalizations.

In legal contexts, the phrase im Einzelfall signifies that a decision depends on the facts of the particular case rather than on general statutory rules alone. Courts weigh evidence and circumstances to determine whether rights or obligations apply in the unique situation. This reflects a tension between rule-bound reasoning and case-by-case assessment.

In the sciences, Einzelfall or Einzelfallstudie denotes a focus on a single case to gain in-depth understanding. While case studies can yield rich qualitative insights and generate hypotheses, they have limited generalizability and cannot by themselves establish universal claims.

In journalism and policy discourse, Einzelfälle are sometimes presented to illustrate broader issues but must be interpreted cautiously so as not to imply trends from isolated incidents. The term highlights the difference between a singular example and a population-level pattern.

Etymology and usage notes: From Einzel (single) and Fall (case). The expression is common in German-speaking contexts and appears in legal, academic, and media language. In English, equivalents include “in the individual case” or “a single case.”